Milk receiving assembly for a carry away milking system



March 5, 1957 c. A. THOMAS MILK RECEIVING ASSEMBLY FOR A CARRY AWAY MILKING SYSTEM Original Filed April 6, 1951 llll lIl'

s Sheets-Sheet 1 fZ Z/KOFZQ 3%, M @MWW %/W March 5, 1957 Original Filed April 6, 1951 c. A. THOMAS 2,783,737

MILK RECEIVING ASSEMBLY FOR A CARRY AWAY MILKING SYSTEM 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 rig/x1575? fl. 2710mm,

MLM/ ,6 '5 I March 5, 1957 c. 'A. THOMAS 2,783,737

MILK RECEIVING ASSEMBLY FOR A CARRY AWAY MILKING SYSTEM Original Filed April 6, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 c. A. THOMAS 2,783,737

MILK RECEIVING ASSEMBLY FOR A CARRY AWAY MILKING SYSTEM March 5, 1957 6 Sheets-555st 4 Original Filed April 6, 195].

March 5, 1957 c. A. THOMAS MILK RECEIVING ASSEMBLY FOR A CARRY AWAY MILKING SYSTEM Original Filed April 6, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 @SMW B-L0w March 5, 1957 c. A. THOMAS MILK RECEIVING ASSEMBLY FOR A CARRY AWAY MILKING SYSTEM Original Filed April 6. 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 5 Sol n- 4 I BQQA vN/Jywv United States Patent MILK RECEIVING ASSEMESLY FOR A CARRY AWAY MILKING SYSTEM Chester Arthur Thomas, Lake Forest, 111., assiguor to Babson Bros. Co., a corporation of Illinois 4 Claims. (Cl. 119-1454) This invention relates to a milk receptacle, especially for use in the machine milking of cows, and more particularly to a milking receptacle for use in an apparatus adapted to pipe milk directly from a cow to a milk can or any other appropriate delivery point.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 219,692, filed April 6, 1951-, which'application before maturing into Patent No. 2,706,965 was a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 208,869, filed February 1, 1951,.now abandoned.

One feature of this invention is that it provides a milk receptacle of sturdy construction; another feature of this invention is that it provides a milk receptacle which implifies the maintenance of sanitary standards; .yet another feature of this invention is that it provides a convenient and simple arrangement for filtering milk going into or through a pipe line system; a further feature of this invention is that it provides a milk receptacle having means adapted to prevent contaminating contact of the teat-cup assemblies with the floor in the event one or more of them are hanging down during use; yet a'further feature of this invention is that it provides a transparent bowl which enables the operator to observe the passage of :milk therethrough; .a still further feature of this invention is that it provides a transparent milk bowl which may receive rough handling without fracture.

Another feature of this invention is that it provides means whereby anordinary.milkingsystem, whereinmilk received from a .cow is retained in the milk withdrawing apparatus, may readily be connected into a carry-away system wherein the milk withdrawn is pipedto any desired point remote from the cow. A further feature of z 1 this aspect of the invention is the provision of means to be attached to the cow for withdrawingmilk from [the cow and directing'it into a pipe line of .a carry-away system, the means being so designed as to produce thenceessary and desired downward and forward tug and pull on the udder as the milking progresses.

Other features and advantages of this inventionwill be apparent from the following specification and the rawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a cowbeing milked by an :apparatus incorporating the receptacle of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus .ofFig. 1 with the cow omitted;

Fig. 3 isan enlarged view takenalong the 1ines.3--3

of Fig. 2 showing a portion of the arm which posit-ions ing the receptacle lid, a portion of the positioning arm and the teat cup nipples attached to the receptacle lid; Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the receptacle shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 7 showing a filter retained in placein the receptacle base; M

Fig. 9 is a view like Fig. 1 showing amodified form of the invention; I

Fig. 10 is an enlarged side elevation of the receptacle used in the modified form of invention illustrated Fig. 9; and V e v A Fig. 11 is a partial bottom plan yiew of .the receptacle shown in Fig. 10. v

In the particular embodiment of the invention illus trated .in Fig. .1, the milking parlor is illustrated as templ-oying the drop system, with the cow floor-being atia higher level than the operators floor or alley. Milking parlors of this general type are more 'fully described in a number of issued patents, and reference may be .had, for examp le, to Babson et -al. Reissue Patent No. 22,368 and :Babson et al. Patent 2,477,035 to supplement the present disclosure with respect to the general features of such milking. parlors and stalls. In such milking parlors the cows, after any desired preliminary washing'of the udder, or omen-preparation, are admitted to a stall, as forexample'the stall shown in Figs. 1 and 2 including the vertical uprights 10, -11, 12 and 13, the overhead horizontal bracing members here identified as 14 and IS, andside.horizontalmembers, as for example, those idenjtified as,16 and17. ,Thestall illustrated .is .shownin-simplified form without ,a feed chute, ggate operating equipment and the ,like,'for convenience and simplicityiqf :illus- .tration. It will be understood that in commercial practice the stall would ,normallyinclude such additional equipment or accessories a those mentioned above aud others illustrated and describedin the above mentioned patents. V 'In the system illustrated, the cow stands on a floor, here identified as 18, which would be at some suitable higher 'level (as two feet) abovean operator.-s.floor -or alley here identified as .19, a vertical wall 20 connecting the two "floor levels. While I prefer to have astepped arrangement of stalls and hoorsas illustrated in the above mentioned patents, the stall is here shown as parallel to the wall 20 for simplicity.ofillustration. I

.Themilking apparatus in which the present invention is particularly adapted for use and the apparatus here illustrated and described is of a kind sometimes .known in the trade as a carry-away type to distinguish it from a milkingmachine which 'recelvesa given-amount of milk directly in its bucket and which must be emptied between the milking of each cow. The system illustrated here is of a character which can be attached to cows as they move into a stall of amilking parlor and which-willfthen carry the milk away from the cow to a desired ultimate point; i. e., the milking apparatus itself will, without an operator having to handle and empty a bucket, deliver milk to a'tube or pipe adapted to deliver it to any desired point, either a milk can immediately adjacent the milking stall or at some remote point or through a sanitary pipe line to othe'rapp'aratus found in themilkhouses and dairy installations of the larger dairy farms, as coolers, storage tanks, pasteurizers or vthe like. The general character and nature of such a system will onlybc described here to such an extent as is necessary to enable an understanding of the proper relation to the remainder of the system of the particular embodiment of the por- 'tion of the system to which this application is directed.

'In general, as may be seen by reference to Fig. l, the system shown therein includes four test cup assemblies Patented Mar. 5, 11957 of identicalcharacter, one being here identified as 22. Each such teat cup assembly comprises a'rigid outer shell and a flexible inner element termed an inflation, this inflation comprising a larger generally cylindrical body adapted to receive the teat being milked, and usually comprising an integral short milk tube extending therefrom and forming a part of the milk passageway delivering milk on through various supplemental parts of the passageway to the desired ultimate destination point. Such teat cup assemblies and inflations are so well known and have been so long used in the held that it is not felt that further illustration or description is necessary. The four teat cup assemblies may be connected together in any desired manner to deliver milk to a single flow passageway, being here shown as having their milk tubes connected to nipples on a lid here identified as 24, this lid forming the top of a milk receiving chamber of substantial size, the remainder of the chamber being provided by a bowl shaped element here identified as 26. The lid carries, suitably mounted thereon, a pulsator 28 of a type well known and conventional in the field, and the entire bowl assembly is supported by apparatus including a pair of pivotally interconnected arms 29 and 30 in turn supported on a vertically adjustable post 31.

The particular adjustable supporting arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 is of the general type more fully shown and described in Babson et al. Reissue Patent No. 22,368. The post 31 may be vertically adjusted to a desired position by telescopic movement withina tube 32 in turn suitably mounted, this mounting being here illustrated as on theside of the wall of the milking parlor installation, although it will be understood that this is representative only. Adjustment may be effected by the handle 33 through a rack and gear arrangement; and a spring 34 is adapted to place continuous forward force on the milking apparatus during milking, so that by appropriate adjustment of the height of the support a downward and forward intermittent tug and pull will be applied to the teat during milking with an intermittent effect due to the pulsator action. The height adjustment is preferably made in such a manner that when the teat cups are placed on the teats there is some upward bending of at least the arm 29, so that the springiness of this arm provides the down ward component of force which, together with the forwardcomponent of force from the spring 34, provide a steady downward and forward force which is converted into. a periodic tug and pull on the teats as a result of pul'sator operation and movement of the teat cup assemblies on the teats due to changes in vacuum.

As is more fully explained in the above mentioned applications, the cup or bowl 26 (preferably of transparent material as Lucite or Plexiglass or other non-shattering and non-cold flowing transparent plastic, to facilitate checking the progress of milking and the condition of the milk) gets the milk away from the teats and prevents it from backing up around the teats.

The cup or bowl provides a chamber of substantial area or capacity enabling each pulse" of milk delivered from the inflation to separate from the ends of the milk tubes and not be drawn back around the tests as the inflations expand on the next portion of pulsator operation. The milking, of course, is of the double acting type conventional for several decades, alternate evacuation of air from admission of air to the space between the rigid outer shells and the inner inflations being effected by the pulsator 28 through appropriate pulsator hoses or tubes.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 3 to 8, inclusive, the general construction of the bowl 26 and its associated parts, sometimes referre to as means defining a chamber will be described in order to better bring out the present invention and its relation to the remainder of the milking system illustrated. The bowl may be of convenient size, as for example of the order of a quart, and is adapted to have sealed to its top, as by a gasket 25, the

lid 24. The lid illustrated is of a type heretofore used on milking machines and is the subject of Thomas Design Patent 156,852. A removable connection of appropriate type is provided between the supporting arm 29 and the lid 24; and means are provided for holding a bottom closure 36 on the bowl, this being here shown as in the form of a snap bail 27 which snaps over a recessed groove 36b in a lug 36a which is integral with the bottom closure 36. The bottom closure for the main body of the bowl is adapted to be sealed to the bowl by another gasket 38, which may be best seen in Figure 7; and a filter pad of conventional type, here identified as 39, may be supported by a perforated plate 40 so that milk leaving the bowl 26 through the outlet connection pipe or nipple 41 will be filtered in desired manner.

The bottom closure 36 is preferably constructed of a corrosion resistant metal such as stainless steel. When the parts represented by the bowl 26, bottom closure 36 and nipple 41 were constructed of a single piece of molded plastic, they placed a severe pulling strain on the nipple 41 which frequently resulted in its fracture near where it was fastened to the bowl. In the present construction the nipple 41 and bottom closure 36 may be made of metal thereby eliminating a weak point. Having the bottom closure 36 detachable from the bowl 26 also provides a convenient location for a filter as will be further described below.

As previously mentioned, the bowl 26 is preferably made of a transparent plastic. The lid 24 and base 36 are preferably made of a metal or metal alloy such as stainless steel and are held in position by the bail 27 which is pivoted from the edge of the lid 24 as best shown in Fig. 4. The bowl 26 is readily clamped between the lid 24 and the bottom closure or base 36. The bowl 26 is then compressed between the two metal pieces, thereby efiecting a very satisfactory assembly.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the filtration means may be seen to consist of several layers of filter pads 39 over the perforated plate 40. The plate 40 seats in an annularly indented portion of the bottom closure 36 as best shown in Fig. 7. The filter pads 39 extend beyond the periphery of the perforated plate 40 and are maintained in position by the gasket 38. In order to change the filter pads it is necessary only to unsnap the bail 27 and remove the bowl 26 from the bottom closure 36. Removal of the gasket then exposes the filter pads which may be replaced. The perforated plate 40 may also be lifted out when it is desired to clean it. e

A bottom leg 42 is threadably attached to the base 36; This bottom leg 42 serves as a convenient means for bolding the receptacle assembly and also as a limiting member to limit the downward movement of the receptacle thereby to prevent contact of the teat cup assemblies with the floor. Occasionally a cow has such a low udder that the leg 42 would contact the floor while the cow was being milked. To avoid this, the leg 42 is made removable so that it may be omitted during milking of such an occasional cow, or, if preferred, the leg may be pivotally connected to the base so that it may be swung up out of the way.

The lid 24 is equipped with four nipples 43 (Fig. 6) to which are attached the teat cups 22. Fig. 1 illustrates the method of operation using the teat cups 22 and the milk receptacle which is the subject of this application. Prior to the time the cow has assumed proper milking position, the spring 34 has positioned the teat cup assembly a little forward of the position shown in Fig. I. With the cow in position the operator places the teat cups on the cow and in so doing pulls the assembly toward the cows udder thereby placing the spring 34 under slight tension. Vertical adjustment of the height is effected by turning the handle 33 in the desired direction. The milking cycle is then started and the progress observed through the transparent bowl or breaker cup 26.

When it is desired to replace the filter pads 39 it is a simple matter to do so by unsnapping the bail 27 and placing fresh filter pads over the perforated plate 40. At this time, the bottom leg 42 is used to hold the base 36. If the operators grip should slip the bottom leg 42 will help to prevent contaminating contact between the floor 18 and the bottom closure 36.

My invention provides a strong milk receptacle which is well sealed from the outside, thereby insuring the easy maintenance of sanitary standards. At the same time, this device can be readily disassembled for the washing or cleaning necessary after completion of each milking period, and for changing of the filter.

The embodiment of the invention hereinabove described is particularly designed for use in a so-called parlor stall" dairy installation. The invention of this application is also useable to convert the ordinary type of milking system, wherein the milk withdrawn from a cow is retained in the milk bucket at the cow (such as shown in the McCornack Patent 1,859,213), into a carry-away system. This conversion can be made very simply and with a minimum of expense.

Referring now to Fig. 9, there is illustrated an ordinary stall having a stanchion 50, the stall being equipped with a vacuum line 51 which may be the vacuum line previously installed for use with the ordinary milking system. To convert this system to a carry-away system, a second vacuum line 52 to carry away the milk is installed in the stall and connected, through the shut-oil valve shown, to a flexible pipe 53 which, in turn, is connected to the milk withdrawing apparatus 54. A flexible line 55 is used to connect the pulsator 56 aifixed to the lid of the apparatus 54 to the line 51.

Most of the details of the milk withdrawing apparatus 54 are similar to those previously described herein and hence will not be further described in detail. Thus, the receptacle 54 includes a lid 57 provided with a number of nipples 58 to be secured to the teat cup assemblies 59 and with a boss 60 to which the pulsator is secured. The lid 57 is secured in air-tight relationship to the top of a transparent open bottomed bowl 61, the bottom of the bowl being closed by a base member 62 provided with a nipple 63 to be connected to the milk line 53, the lid, bowl and base forming chamber means. The base is provided with a heavy metal weight 64 secured thereto to produce the necessary downward pull on the teats as the milking progresses. The magnitude of the weight is such as to bring the receptacle to an empty weight of between fifteen and twenty pounds, with a gross empty weight of eighteen pounds being preferred. Secured to the base is a cantilever handle 65 which has a portion 66 extending vertically upwardly alongside of the bowl 61, an end portion 66;: interposed between base member 62 and weight 63, and a curved top portion 67 curving back over the top of the lid. The portion 67 is provided with a plurality of notches 68 each adapted to be placed in a bow 65 provided on the bottom of a surcingle 70 adapted to be suspended from the back of the cow.

A U-shaped latch bail 72 has its base located in a recessed portion '73 extending across the bottom of the base and is rotatably secured in the recess by a cover plate 74. The arms 75 of the bail extend upwardly on either side of the receptacle and are threaded at their upper ends to receive wing nuts 76. The upper ends of the bail are receivable in a notch 77 provided in a fitting 7d secured to the lid so that by tightening the wing nuts 76 the lid, base and bowl may be firmly held together; with the gaskets previously described seating in their respective seats to provide an air and fluid-tight container. When it is desired to separate the various parts of the receptacle for cleaning, the wing nuts 76 may be loosened and the latch bail 72 pivoted out of the way.

In using the device of this invention in the manner illustrated in Fig. 9, the vacuum line 55 is secured to the pulsator 56 while the vacuum milk line 53 is secured to the nipple 63. The portion 67 of the handle is then placed in the bow 69 of the surcingle 70 which has been previously attached to the cow, with the bow positioried in one of the notches 68. The matches 68 are provided so that the forward pull on the teats may be regulated as required, being less for an easy milking cow and up to the maximum forward pull (by using the notch 68a nearest the vertical portion of the handle) for a hard milking cow. The surcingie is drawn forwardly as illustrated in Fig. 9 to provide the forward component of force during the milking operation and, of course, the weight 64 provides the downwardly component as pre viously described; If desired, the receptacle may be secured to an independent support such as shown in said Reissue Patent 22,368.

The weight 64 is concentrated at the bottom of the receiving apparatus 54 and, as shown, preferably has a diameter of the same order or slightly less than the diameter of chamber defining bowl 6 1. In addition, the over-all height of the apparatus is of the order of two and one-half times the diameter of the weight.

Inasmuch as the receptacle 54 is not provided with a leg, such as shown on the previously described embodiment, it is preferable that the overall height of the receptacle be such as to prevent the teat cups from touching the fioor should they all become loosened during the milking operation. Should all of the teat cups fall from the udder of the cow, the milking apparatus would swing forward until it was vertically beneath the surcingle, in which position its bottom may be resting upon the floor. The height of the apparatus is such that, should this ocour, the teat cups are prevented from resting on the floor and thus the danger or" sucking debris into the milk line is avoided. An additional safeguard is the fact that the ends of the nipples 58 are beveled so that the rubber hose connecting the nipples to the teat cups closes oil the nippies when the teat cup falls downwardly, and hence the vacuum to the fallen cup is shut 01f.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a carry-away milking system, a milking appavolumetric capacity substantially less than the normal volume of milk delivered by a cow at a single milking and greater than the amount of milk delivered at a single operation of the milking apparatus, said chamber being adapted for connection with teat cup assemblies, and having an outlet adapted for connection with an evacuated carry-away milk line, a handle connected to said means, extending upwardly therefrom and adapted to hook over a support element extending transversely beneath an animal, and a weight on said means, the gross empty weight of said assembly being of the order of fifteen to twenty pounds.

2. In a carry-away milking system, a milking apparatus comprising, means defining a chamber having a volumetric capacity substantially less than the normal volume of milk delivered by a cow at a single milking and adapted for connection with teat cup assemblies, said chamber having an outlet at the bottom thereof and adapted for connection with an evacuated carry-away milk line, a handle connected with said means, extending upwardly therefrom and adapted for supporting engagement with a support element extending transversely beneath an animal, and a weight secured to the bottom of said means and hanging downwardly therefrom, the height of said assembly being of the order of two and one-half times the diameter of said weight, and the gross empty weight of the assembly being of the order of fifteen to twenty pounds.

3. In a carry-away milking system, a milking apparatus comprising, means defining a chamber having a volumetric capacity substantially less than the normal volume of milk delivered by a cow at a single milking and. adapted for connection with teat cup assemblies, said chamber having an outlet adapted for connection with an evacuated carry-away milk line, a handle having an end portion secured to the bottom of said means and having another portion adapted to hook over a supporting element extending transversely beneath an animal, and a weight carried on the bottom of said means, said end of the handle being between the bottom and said weight, the gross empty weight of said assembly being o f the order of fifteen to twenty pounds.

4. In a carry-away milking system, a milking apparatus comprising, means defining a chamber having a volumetric capacity substantially less than the normal volume of milk delivered by a cow at a single milking and greater than the amount of milk delivered at a single; operation of the milking apparatus, said chamber being adapted for connection with teat cup assemblies,

and having an outlet adapted for connection with an evacuated carry-away milk line, a handle having an end portion secured to the bottom of said means and having another portion extending upwardly to hook over a supporting element extending transversely beneath an animal, and a weight carried on the bottom of said means and extending downwardly therefrom, the diameter of said weight being less than the diameter of said chamber and the over-all height of said assembly being approx irnately two and one-ha1f times the diameter of the weight, the gross empty weight of the assembly being substantially eighteen pounds.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 

